Select these supplements based on your goals:

1.  Prevent osteoporosis:  Osteoporosis is deadly; 25% of persons over 50 with osteoporotic hip fractures are dead within one year.  Do weightlifting which builds bone strength.  Calcium is basic in building healthy bones (men see prostate section below), as well as Vitamin D and  magnesium.  Vitamin K2  (menaquinone) removes calcium from arteries thus reducing atherosclerosis and builds bone; K1 is a clotting factor and persons on warfarin (Coumadin) should consult their physician before taking Vitamin K.  Strontium supplements can help, as well as boron.  Combination products are available.

2.  Preserve Joint Cartilage with Glucosamine sulfate, which is derived from shellfish and helps maintain the joint space and rebuild damaged cartilage, as well as inhibiting enzymes that destroy cartilage.  Glucosamine hydrochloride is another form.  Glucosamine is often combined with chondroitin or MSM. 

3.  Prevent breast cancer with I3C, or indole-3-carbinol, which is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, and which is converted by stomach acid to DIM (di-indolmethane). These compounds block the cancer causing 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone pathway, convert "strong"  estradiol to "weak" estriol and inhibit human breast cancer cells from growing.  Cruciferous vegetable exracts contain I3C, DIM, and other cancer fighting agents. Iodoral tablets contain the amount of iodine that the average Japanese woman takes, and Japan has a low incidence of breast cancer.  Eating soy foods before puberty can reduce breast cancer later in life, and soy isoflavones create healthier cell colonies.  Green tea fights several cancers, and has cardiovascular and other benefits.  Melatonin  can help prevent breast cancer and fight metastatic disease.  Also reduce red meat consumption.

4.  Prevent Prostate Cancer with selenium, levels of which are lower in older men with prostate cancer.  Italian researchers studied men with precancerous PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), who have an 80% ten year risk of prostate cancer.  Patients given green tea supplements had a 90% reduction in prostate cancer.  Zyflamend, a patented formulation from New Chapter, consists of 10 anti-inflammatory herbs and blocks COX 1 and 2 inflammatory pathways, reducing prostate cancer.  Blocking COX pathways increases inflammation through LOX pathways, which in turn can be blocked by boswella.  Isosilybin B, a component of Silymarin or milk thistle, shows anti-prostate cancer activity in laboratory studies.  High dietary calcium intake may increase prostate cancer risk; men who consumed more than 2000 mg. per day doubled their prostate cancer risk compared to men that consumed less than 1000 mg. per day. 

5. Prevent Gastrointestinal Cancers by not eating processed meats such as hot dogs, sausages and luncheon meats which increase pancreatic cancer risk by 67%. Heavy eating of red meat and pork increase pancreatic cancer risk by 50%.  Burned meats increase cancer risk.  Green tea supplements can reduce colon cancer risk as well as curcumin.

    Before taking any supplement check with your health care provider and look for side effects and cross reactions with other supplements or prescription drugs as described on the page above.  This website is for informational purposes only and no specific medical advice is given to any individual.